Extension and roof for silos.



L. S. NAPZIGBR.

EXTENSION AND ROOF FOR SILOS.

APPLICATION IILBD MAY 13, 1914.

Lmqwwe Patented Jan. 5 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO., Fncflo-Lirua, WASHING TON, Q. c,

L. S. NAFZIGBR.

EXTENSION AND ROOF FOR SILOS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1914 1,124,051. Patented Jan.5,1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTGLITHO, WASHINGTON D, C.

LEO S. NA'EZIGEE, OF GOSl-ZEN, INDIl-XNA, ASSIGIJOR TO SHEET METAL SLPEGIALTY COMPANY, OF GOST-IEN, INDIANA, A CUR-PGRATIUN OF INDIANA.

EXTENSION AND ROOF FOR SILOS.

ins-inst.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEO S. Narzrcnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Goshen, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extensions and Boots for Silos, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to silos, particularly to a combined extension and roof, and has for its object the provision of a device of this character which is so constructed that when employed as an extension, it will extend vertically upward in alinement with the Walls of the silo, forming aoylindrical casing; and which will, when collapsed to form a roof, resolve itself into a conical water excluding covering, the component parts of the device being interlocked whether in the extended or collapsed position.

An important object is to provide novel means whereby the parts of the device will be eitectually braced and supported when the device is used as an extension, said bracing and supporting means being shiftable into a different position when the device is collapsed to form a roof, and being adapted to reinforce and support the device in its collapsed position and providing means for supporting a detachable apex cap.

With these and various other objects in View, such as novel locking means for securing the supporting and bracing devices, together with a novel means for connecting various of the component parts of the device, in addition to the advantageous features of simplicity, durability, and high efficiency, my invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved device some of the plates being shown in the position for forming an extension and other of the plates being shown in their collapsed positions ior forming the roof, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view therethrough, Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the overlapping flanges on the plates. Fig. 4: is a detail view of the lock for securing the ends of the bracing members, Fi 5 is a perspective view of one of the lock members detached, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged view showing the connection of the bracing members with the apex cap support when the plates are in their collapsed positions.

Referring more particularly to the draw ings, the numeral 1 designates an annular ring which forms the supporting base of my device. The ring 1 comprises an angle iron 2 upon which is riveted or otherwise secured an apron or flange 3 which projects over the side of a silo to which the device is applied. At its upper edge the angle iron is provided with a plurality of apertures by means of which the sides of my device are adapted to be hingedly secured thereto. Hooks a having upwardly bent ends 5 are passed through the apertures and then through holes in a plurality of triangular members, designated as a whole, by the numerals 6 and 7. After passing through the members, plates 8 are passed over the ends of the hooks 4. after which nuts 9 are threaded upon the ends of the hooks for preventing the members trom displacement.

Each one of the members 7 has hingedly secured, as at 10, upon its side edges, a pair of other triangular members 11. Adjacent the upper end of each of the other members 6 is pivotally secured a rod 12 for a purpose to be described. Each of the members 6 is provided upon its side edges with outwardly then inwardly bent flanges 13 and each of the members 7 is provided upon its side edges with inwardly, then outwardly bent flanges 14:. Furthermore each of the members 11 has its free edge bent outwardly as at 15. From the foregoing it will be apparent that when the device is used as an extension for a silo and all the members 6, 7 and 11 are in a vertical position the flanges l3 and 15 will be interlocked and the flanges 14: will be disposed over the lines of union of the members 11. with the members 7.

When the device is so arranged, the bars 12 on the members 6 will be swung into a transverse position, thereby bracing the tops ot the members 6 and preventing the upper edges of the members 11 from falling inwardly.

In order to provide additional means for strengthening the device when it is in its extended position, and for positively preventing any inward or outward sagging of any of the members, I provide a novel reinforcing means, to be described. Upon each of the members 7, adjacent its upper end is pivotally secured as at 16 a channel bar 17 which is curved longitudinally to form an arc of a circle having the same diameter as the diameter of the assembled extended members. When the device is in its extended position the channel bars 17 are swung to be disposed horizontally. Upon each of the members 6 in alinement with the horizontally disposed channel bars 17 is secured a strap 18 for reinforcing purposes. Upon each end of each strap 18 is pivotally secured, as at 19, a lock 20 by means of which the channel bars 17 are secured to form a strong continuous hoop extending internally around the entire periphery of the device. Each of the locks 20 comprises a strip bent upon itself to form a horizontal portion 21 and angular portion 22 and is provided at its short end with a stud Each end of each channel bar 17 is provided with a hole 24. The channel bars 17 are secured upon said straps 18 by swinging the locks 20 on each member 6 toward each other, thereby causing the end carrying the studs 23 to be disposed beyond the edges of the members 6. The channel bars 17 are then moved so that the studs 23 will engage within the holes 24, after which the locks 20 are swung outwardly until the horizontal portions 21 engage the top surfaces of the channel bars 17. When this is done it will be observed that the axes of the channel bars and the studs 23 will lie in a plane somewhat above the pivot points 19, thereby preventing the locks 20 from becoming disengaged from the channel bars 17 until released by the operator.

When it is desired to use the device as a root, the locks 20 are swung outwardly to release the tension upon the channel bars 17, the bars are then disengaged from the stud 23 and swung into a vertical position and the bars 12 are also swung into a vertical position. The members 6 and 7 are then swung inwardly, whereupon the members 11 will swing upon the hinges 10 and hang vertically below the members 7. hen the device is in this position the man bers 6 and 7 will fall into positions forming a closure of frusto-conical shape, and the flanges 13 and 14: will interlock, forming watertight joints. In order to complete the conical closure, I provide a ring 25 to which the ends of the now longitudinally extending channel bars 17 are connected by engagement of the holes 2% with studs 26 secured upon the ring. The channel bars 17 are firmly secured upon the ring 25 by means of hook-shaped bolts 27 the hooked portions of which extend over the channel bars 17 and the shanks of which extend through the ring 25 and are provided with clamping nuts. A vertical screw-threaded rod 29 extends from the center of the ring 25. The closure is completed by means of an apex cap 30, the apron 81 of which overlaps the top edges of the members. The cap 30 is secured upon the rod 29 by means of a rod 32 extending trans versely through it and provided with a screw-threaded hole at its center, engaging the rod 29, thereby serving as a nut so that the cap 30 may be screwed down upon the rod 29 to cause the apron 31 to contact closely with the members. The cap 30 and the apron 31 may be made integral or in separate pieces as preferred.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A combined extension and roof for silos comprising a plurality of triangular members hingedly secured upon the top edge of a silo, the edges of said members being adapted to overlap when the device is in its collapsed position, a pair of triangular members hingedly secured upon the side edges of each alternate one of said first named members, said first and last named members having their edges overlapping when the device is in its extended position, and means for holding said members in their extended positions, said means being shiftable for holding said members in their collapsed positions.

2. A combined extension and r001 for silos comprising a plurality of triangular membershingedly secured upon the top of the silo, other triangular members secured upon said first named members, and means for holding said members in their extended positions, said means comprising arcuate bars pivotally connected with each alternate one of said first named members and provided upon their ends with holes, and a pair of locks pivotally secured upon each of the other alternate ones of said first named members and engaging said holes, said locks being adapted to be swung for drawing the ends of said bars together.

3. A combined extension and roof for silos comprising a plurality of triangular members hingedly connected with the top edge of a silo, other triangular members pivotally connected with the side edges of each alternate one of said first named members, a plurality of bars connected with said adapted to be secured, and a closure cap first named members and adapted to have mounted on said ring. 10 their ends secured for forming a continuous In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my hoop said first named membersbeing adaptsignature in the presence of two witnesses.

ed to be swung inwardly, said bars being LEO S. NAFZIGER. capable of being swung into a longitudinal Witnesses:

position with respect to said first named SAMUEL O. NAFZIGER,

members, a ring to which said bars are then JONATHAN S. YODER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

